CHAPTER ONE
It appeared that it was going to be a wet spring for Louisiana. The rain would stop and twenty minutes later start up again. One day the temperatures were in the seventies and the next day it was a damp, cold forty. With the rain coming down once again, they huddled in the offices to review the upcoming work.
“Well, it appears that all of our ghosts found what they needed to find, or at least I hope they found what they needed. I’m just happy they have moved on and are finally at peace,” said Luke shaking his head.
“Bet you never thought you’d say that,” smirked Eric.
“Asshole,” muttered Luke with a grin. “Honestly? Anymore I don’t doubt that saying, seeing, or doing anything is impossible or unheard of. It seems every day something new happens here that proves to me we’re in the right place.
“Mardi Gras is in full swing and the parades are kicking off this week. Even though Grandma is, well, ghostly, she still wants the parade of boats through the bayou.”
“I’m glad,” said Hex. “I love that shit. I didn’t have that when I was a kid so I’ve grown to love the custom here. Besides, king cake is my jam this time of year. Praline filling with cream cheese for me. Plus, people getting all excited for a bunch of plastic beads and cups, everyone laughing and having a good time. It’s great. We see a lot of neighbors that we don’t always get to see throughout the year.”
“I know,” nodded Luke. “It’s been decades now and even though I bitch about it, it’s a lot of fun. Ajei and I were king and queen one year. A few of our people have been king or queen. Wouldn’t everyone shit themselves if Grandma and Grandpa were king and queen this year.” The whole room erupted in laughter but Luke held up his hand.
“No surprise that Grandma has created a list of things we need to get done, along with Aunt Claudette and the others.”
“Hell, our own wives are barking orders,” said Eric. “Sophia Ann was yelling at me to get the Christmas lights off the house and swap them for Mardi Gras lights. She’s a fucking engineer! Couldn’t she figure out a way to make the lights change colors by season?”
“Yes, she could,” came his wife’s voice standing in the door.
“Oh, hi babe,” he smirked.
“Don’t hi babe me. Yes, there are technologies like that but remember that our lights are in different shapes for every season. Besides, I have more important things to develop than colored lights.”
The men all smiled at her, then grinned at Eric who was squirming in his seat.
“Is there something you needed, Sophia Ann?” asked Hex.
“Oh, yes. I have an updated list for you. You’re going to need to send some of the boys into town to pick up this stuff. Ham said some of their team doesn’t have a lot going on if we need help.”
Luke took the list from her and gasped.
“It’s four pages!” he yelled.
“Problem with that?” she smiled, her hand on her hip. She knew she had the upper hand because Mama Irene wouldn’t allow for anything but success at a party on Belle Fleur land.
“Soph, come on,” he whined. She walked toward her husband, kissing him and touching his face intimately.
“Eric, make it happen please. Even if Luke whines about it. Mama Irene is serious about this and let’s keep her happy, shall we?”
“Okay, babe,” he laughed.
He watched his wife’s beautiful ass sway as she left the boardroom. It was great to still feel that familiar stirring when he saw her. There was no doubt she was the love of his life and would always remain so.
Eric looked at Luke who was shaking his head at the list handed to him. There were decorations to pick up, king cakes to be ordered and picked up, hundreds of pounds of oysters, crawfish, shrimp, and other seafood. It seemed never-ending.
“Listen, it’s usually like this so it shouldn’t be a big deal,” smirked Hex. “If the SW team has some maneuverability, let’s get them to help. Besides, as much as it pains me, they are younger and have more energy.”
“Fuck that,” snarled Luke. “I’m as energetic as I ever was.”
“Sure you are,” smiled Cam, leaning back in the chair he kicked his feet up on the table. “We all want to believe that but I think we need to be grounded in the fact that we’re human. I don’t know what Matthew and Irene are but we are not them.”
“Wait. Will we be ghosts one day?” asked Eric. They all looked at him, shrugging their shoulders.
“No clue, dude. I’m going to guess we’ll all do the ghostly thing but I’m in no rush,” said Cam. “What about cases? What do we have this week?”
“Nothing big, which is fortunate considering the list we have to attend to. Anybody check up on the animal sanctuary?”
